The JCA Selection Panel today selected the final 14 players for EAP
Cricket Cup in Vanuatu coming up at the end of September, 2005.

The JCA Selection Panel have decided to go with a strategy of bringing
in some younger players into the squad, as well as a side well balanced
in terms of a long batting line up and a different mixture of pace and
slower bowlers.

4 new batsmen will make their debut for Japan in this tour, with Yoshiyuki
Hirose (Wyverns CC), Ko Irie (British Embassy CC), Masaomi Kobayashi (Max
CC) and Sriram Sampath (Indian Engineers CC) all new to the team. The Selection
Panel noted that a strengthening in the batting department was necessary
from last year's EAP Cricket Challenge in Fuji, when the team struggled
to go past 200 until the final match. The Selectors are very confident
that the new players all bring different styles of batting to the team,
and their selections are based on consistent run scoring efforts in the
Kanto Cricket League and the selection trials held over the past 2 months.
These players have been added to the returning batsmen of Junior Takahashi
(Fuji Far East CC) Tetsuo Fuji (Millennium CC), Jummei Hanada (Wyverns
CC) and Munir Ahmed (Millennium CC), which makes for a powerful line-up.

"All of the selected batsmen can build innings but also hit the ball
when necessary", said selector Robb McKenna, "We believe that some of our
batting deficiencies from the past have been greatly improved by this line-up."

In the bowling department, new faces are young leg spinner Kenji Murata
(British Embassy CC), and left armers Razaq Cheema (Millennium CC) and
Patrick Giles-Jones (Kobe R & AC), the first player ever from a Kansai
Club to be selected in the National team. They will join incumbents Naoki
Miyaji (Hampstead CC), now based and playing in England, and another left
armer Yuta Matsubara (Millennium CC).

Giles-Jones has been the bolter of the team, coming from obscurity
to earn a starting berth with very strong performances opening the bowling
in the last 2 selection camps. His quick left arm bowling has impressed
all of the selectors, particularly with his ability to bowl tightly and
consistently take wickets. He has also showed a handy ability with the
bat, and could fill in any position in the order if necessary.

Kenji Murata is an exciting young leg spinning talent, and with the
tendency for the big hitting
teams of the Pacific to struggle against good slow bowling, a gamble
has been made on his ability to take wickets when the opposition tries
to up the run-rate at crucial time.

His combination with the spin bowling of Munir Ahmed could possibly
bring big rewards for Japan in certain matches.

Razaq Cheema has been a consistent performer in national team trials
and the KCL over the past few years, and has earned his spot with pure
weight of performance. He provides another left arm bowling option, as
well as powerful lower order batting.

In the end, Tatsuro Chino (Wyverns CC) has been named as wicket keeper
who was selected as one of Team of the tournament in last year's EAP Cricket
Challenge.

The selectors believe that their slow bowling options are greatly increased
with this line-up, as well as the ability to create the different angles
that left handers bring to a game. Combined with Japan's strengthened batting
line-up as well as their always tight and athletic fielding, it is believed
that a very young and attacking side has been put together, which will
also stand the side in good stead for the future.